A Merry Life by. Sarah Branson | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: A Merry Life (Pirates of New Earth, #1)

Author: Sarah Branson

Narrator(s): Helen Laser

Format: audiobook (audible)

Pages: 328 Listening Time: approximately 8 hours 13 min

Publication Date: 4/9/22

Publisher: Sarah Branson

Categories: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Dystopian, Series

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Sarah Branson for giving me a chance to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Kat Wallace is on a mission. After escaping tortuous enslavement, she sets her sights on ending the human trafficking that has flourished in 24th century Earth.

Adopted by the leader of the pirate nation of Bosch, Kat Wallace is determined to prove herself as a member of the Bosch Pirate Force and use her skills to avenge her enslavement and free other thralls.

But unexpected love and a test of loyalty threaten to rob her of what she wants a home.

Content Warning: mention of -grooming, sexual assault, rape, abuse; slavery, violence, death

I was asked to read and review this book and was gifted the audiobook on Audible. The narrator’s voice was great and really drew me into the story! I don’t usually read sci-fi/fantasy, and I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this one but I was interested in the FMC, Kat Wallace, right away. Just from the beginning chapters alone you know she’s a survivor and she’s going to have one amazing story – and I was right. The world building about this futuristic Earth is very fascinating.

Kat is a thrall, a slave, and she’s trying to escape when Teddy, the leader of the pirate nation of Bosch, saves her and takes her home. She basically becomes his adopted daughter and what a relationship they have from start to the emotional finish.

I was really invested in Kat’s life from being new in Bosch, getting to know Teddy’s family, becoming strong and knowledgable with the goal of taking down the man who owned her and assaulted her. With Teddy’s guidance, his family (her new family), new friends and even a new love life – Kat becomes an amazing woman. Though she doesn’t quite carry out her revenge, I think that’s why this is a series and hopefully I can get around to reading the other books to see what happens next.

Now there were some time jumps that felt kind of quick in the story. Like one day she’s a trainee and next she’s on a mission and it’s almost a year later and these time jumps were jarring. The romance in her life happens fast too – despite her having trauma in her past. Also…maybe this gets brought up more in the next books but Teddy’s operation of selling glitter (a drug), is concerning and Kat brings it up – it’s not okay and she wants to change that but later on seems to accept it as is – but I hope in the next books, she ends this glitter trade. Another thing I would have loved was more pirating in the story.

Final Thoughts:

If you like sci-fi, fantasy and dystopian stories, I think this would appeal to you. I loved the narrator and though it feels like the book just follows Kat’s very interesting life, it glosses over some things that I wish we had more time with like the romance, and the pirating. The world building is great and I didn’t expect the emotional ending. I’m hoping in the next books in the series, Kat gets her revenge though!

Read if you like:

sci-fi/dystopian
space pirates
strong FMC

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

If You Could See the Sun by. Ann Liang | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: If You Could See the Sun

Author: Ann Liang

Narrator(s): Natalie Naudus

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Pages: 346 Listening Time: approximately 9 hours

Publication Date: 10/11/22

Publisher: Harlequin Audio

Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Magical Realism

In this genre-bending YA debut, a Chinese American girl monetizes her strange new invisibility powers by discovering and selling her wealthy classmates’ most scandalous secrets.

Alice Sun has always felt invisible at her elite Beijing international boarding school, where she’s the only scholarship student among China’s most rich and influential teens. But then she starts uncontrollably turning invisible—actually invisible.

When her parents drop the news that they can no longer afford her tuition, even with the scholarship, Alice hatches a plan to monetize her strange new power—she’ll discover the scandalous secrets her classmates want to know, for a price.

But as the tasks escalate from petty scandals to actual crimes, Alice must decide if it’s worth losing her conscience—or even her life.

Content Warning: kidnapping, cheating

+ Ann Liang does young adult rivals to lovers romance so well! This is the second book I’ve read where she uses this trope and I just love it especially when it is set at a wealthy private school. The narrator for this audiobook is becoming one of my favorite voices in the audiobook world, she does a fantastic job voicing the characters in this story.

+ Alice is one of the top people in her class, but she’s poor compared to the other students at her school. All she wants is to be rich like them one day but first she has to figure out how to come up with the tuition money if she wants to stay there. One day she realizes she can be invisible – not sure how or why (kind of wanted a reason for it) – but instead of really freaking out about it, she turns it into a business venture that could help her pay her tuition. She gets Henry Lee, one of the hottest and richest guys at school, and her biggest rival, to create the app where her business can thrive.

+ The romance is so cute. Alice and Henry are always in competition and Henry seems to like her but Alice is so focused on everything else, that she doesn’t really see it until later. They spend more time together now that she has this business using her invisibility and the closer they get, Alice realizes she might feel more about Henry than she is letting on. It’s a slow burn but it gave me all the feels when they finally get together.

+ I like Alice, even though she let her fears and ambition guide her and she makes some big mistakes, I understood her predicament and desires. All she wants is to make her parents proud and one day be wealthy enough to take care of them and I think many kids who are not from wealthy families feel that burden – especially if you are Asian. I love that she turned something that is scary into a business! This business also made her befriend some people at school that she never thought she could be friends with like Chanel.

Final Thoughts:

I kind of need someone at Netflix to make these Ann Liang rival to lovers romance novels into tv shows. I would be obsessed. This book had drama, action, friendship, and romance that melted my heart. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Read if you like:

young adult rivals to lovers
rich boy x poor girl
magical realism – special powers -invisibility
school drama

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by. Ann Liang | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This Time it’s Real by. Ann Liang | Audiobook Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Song to Drown Rivers by. Ann Liang | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Last Wish of Bristol Keats by. Mary E. Pearson | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Last Wish of Bristol Keats (The Courting of Bristol Keats, #2)

Author: Mary E. Pearson

Narrator(s): Brittany Pressley

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Pages: 449 Listening Time: approximately 14 hours

Publication Date: 11/10/25

Publisher: MacMillan Audio

Categories: Romantasy, Series

Everyone needs something to hold onto, even if it’s a lie.

After Bristol nearly loses Tyghan to the monsters her mother unleashed, their love deepens to a whole new level. Together, Bristol and Tyghan work to understand and reconcile their differences, moving forward with their common goal of saving Elphame. But, when a daring rescue attempt turns disastrous and a beloved knight dies, Bristol is forced to confront the fact that her mother is more powerful than she could ever have imagined – and more dangerous, too.

Meanwhile, Tyghan’s heart is laid bare when he re-encounters his betrayer, Kierus, and must wrestle with a new secret that throws everything he thought he knew about his past into question. Bristol is Elphame’s last chance for survival, but where do her loyalties truly lie? If she embraces the magic that has always been her birthright, she could become a monster just like her mother. Is she willing to risk losing the people she loves most if it means keeping them safe?

Discover the stunning second book in the Bristol Keats fantasy duology, from New York Times bestselling author Mary E. Pearson.

Content Warning: violence, death, grief

+ This is a series with a large cast of characters and yet, there one only one narrator and she did quite a job! I think the only voice I didn’t love was for Tyghan – but that’s just a personal preference. She was amazing doing all the voices for this book. And I’m glad I listened to this book because I don’t think I would have been as invested if I sat down and read it.

+~ I felt like this story moved quicker than book one, which I appreciated. Maybe because it finally gets to to big battle. The ending is gets very emotional but also kind of gave me whiplash. I can see why Bristol does what she does out of grief, but again with their communication issues.

+~ There is so much conflict for Bristol in this story. Her parents are enemies of Tyghan and his court. She loves them so much that she wants to save them which is totally understandable. Tyghan has lost people due to her parents though so I can understand his anger too. Throughout the whole story it was just this back and forth of who was right and what the right choice was for dealing with her parents. I felt bad for Bristol. It still felt weird to me that Tyghan was raised with and is ex-best friends with her dad though – just something I can’t really shake. 🤦🏻‍♀️ It kinda gives me the ick.

+~ Because of Bristol’s conflict, there were many times where Tyghan and her and to work through their relationship because of the issues that came between them. I did not like Tyghan keeping things from her about her dad. So communication was something they had to work on a lot. Clearly they loved one another and really wanted to make things work out. There are some spicy scenes. And the ending? It’s very emotional for both of them.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I enjoyed this audiobook except how Tyghan’s voice was done – it just didn’t work for me but for all the other voices this amazing narrator had to do? Outstanding. This is not my favorite series from this author, I think it might be my least favorite of them all but I’m glad I got to finish it.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Courting of Bristol Keats by. Mary E. Pearson | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

ARC Review | Vow of Thieves ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dance of Thieves ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Kiss of Deception ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Heart of Betrayal ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Beauty of Darkness ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

First-Time Caller by. B.K. Borison | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: First-Time Caller (Heartstrings, #1)

Author: B.K. Borison

Narrator(s): E.J. Bingham, Hathaway Lee

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Pages: 448 Listening Time: approximately 12 hours

Publication Date: 2/10/25

Publisher: Books on Tape

Categories: Contemporary Romance, Series

Aiden Valentine has a secret: he’s fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight.

Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life—or lack thereof—she begins to question if she’s as happy as she thought. Maybe a little more romance wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending… even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final call between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.

A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle-inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

Content Warning: cancer

+ The narrators are so great for this audiobook, their voices sound good and they kept me invested from start to finish.

+ I got the Sleepless in Seattle vibes right away from this story and fell in love (I loved that movie). Lucie is a single mom, and her 12 year old daughter calls into a radio station, to help her mom find a date! From there Lucie meets Aiden, the radio show host, who is going through some things of his own. He doesn’t quite believe in love, because he fears it, but he’s willing to help Lucie find love, mostly at first because he needs ratings for the show.

+ I love Lucie who is a mechanic, is co-parenting with her baby-daddy and his husband. She loves her family and honestly she’s just tired of the dating scene because it never works out for her. She’s relatable. Aiden is actually going through a a lot – he has lost the love for his job, he is trying to avoid his mom because her cancer scares have scared him, basically fear is preventing him from really living, until he meets Lucie.

+~ The romance is super cute, I loved it! I love how Lucie and Aiden take it slow and get to know one another. I love their time at the radio-station and how it builds up to the spicy scene. Of course there was a little conflict which made me want to shake Aiden a little, I got mad at him, but he has issues and he eventually figures it out.

Final Thoughts:

This was a very cute friends to lovers romance and a great edition to the When in Rome series! I enjoyed the audiobook a lot.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Good Spirits by. B.K. Borison | Audiobook ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In Your Dreams by. Sarah Adams | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: In Your Dreams (When in Rome, #4)

Author: Sarah Adams

Narrator(s): Chase Brown, Christine Lakin

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Pages: 358 Listening Time: approximately 11 hours

Publication Date: 12/29/25

Publisher: Books on Tape

Categories: Contemporary Romance, Small Town Romance, Series

A homecoming to Rome, Kentucky, sparks a new romance—and lots of drama—between two old family friends, from the New York Times bestselling author of When in Rome, Practice Makes Perfect, and Beg, Borrow, or Steal

Madison Walker left Rome, Kentucky, determined to prove she could make it in the culinary world. But after years of chasing success in New York, all she has to show for it is a shattered confidence and a desperate need for a fresh start. Coming home isn’t part of the plan—until an unexpected job offer lands in her lap, giving her a chance to rebuild everything she’s lost: the head chef position at a new farm-to-table restaurant in her hometown. The only catch? It comes from James Huxley, owner of Huxley Farm, her brother’s best friend . . . and the last person she wants to work for.

James has always played it safe, keeping his head down and doing what’s expected of him in the family business and never contemplating anything different—until now when Madison’s happiness is on the line. He’s loved her quietly for years, knowing she’s never seen him as more than an annoyance. Now that she’s back, he’s determined to change that–even if it means he can only ever be her friend. The one problem? His charming, wildly successful younger brother, Tommy, seems determined to win her over first.

Then Tommy is called away on business and Madison and James are tasked with launching the dreamy farm-to-table restaurant on their own. But as the town starts meddling in their relationship, Tommy’s pursuit of Madison grows more relentless, and Madison’s fears threaten to hold her back, keeping things strictly professional becomes impossible. And when an unexpected disaster on opening night collides with a long-simmering sibling feud, both Madison and James will have to face their biggest insecurities—and decide if love is worth the risk or if some dreams are safer left untouched.

Content Warning: smoking

+ The narrators did a fabulous job and kept me invested in this romance story!

+ This is book four in the When in Rome series, and I’ve read all the books except the first one, surprisingly. But once more we are back in Rome, Kentucky, a small town with good vibes. Madison left Rome to make her culinary dreams come true in NYC but it wasn’t what she thought it would be so she’s back home again, trying to figure out what’s next for her. James is Madison’s brother’s best-friend, and on a whim he tells Madison he has a restaurant he needs a chef for and thought of her for the position. Thing is James’ farm is on the verge of closing, and he needs this restaurant to work to keep it afloat.

+ This is a small town, brother’s best-friend, friends to lovers romance which I thought was really cute from beginning to end. Clearly James is crazy about her but doesn’t know where he stands with her – despite that he does everything to try and make her happy. Madison, is the youngest Walker sister and kind of the wild, flighty one. She’s a free spirit. She’s also had a crush on James for awhile now but has kept him in the friend zone so they can concentrate on being business partners with this new restaurant. It’s a very slow burn, and there is spice, but not a lot of it, just at the end of the book.

+ There is a lot of soul searching happening in this story. Madison is the free spirit who needs to put down roots somewhere. She feels like the family failure. James has taken over the farm from his parents and he feels like he’s letting them down because the farm isn’t doing well. Tommy’s brother is trying to help James but he’s also flirty with Madison, so there are some issues Tommy and James have to work out.

~ It’s a cute romance without much drama between Madison and James which is cute, but I wanted a little bit a drama to keep things interesting but that’s a personal preference!

Final Thoughts:

This was a very cute friends to lovers romance and a great edition to the When in Rome series! I enjoyed the audiobook a lot.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by. Sarah Adams | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Match by. Sarah Adams | Audiobook Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (When in Rome,

Practice Makes Perfect by. Sarah Adams | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mate by. Ali Hazelwood | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: Mate (Bride, #2)

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Narrator(s): Ellie Gossage and Teddy Hamilton

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Pages: 457 Listening Time: approximately 14 hours

Publication Date: 10/6/25

Publisher: Books on Tape

Categories: Paranormal Romance, Series

A Human hybrid and an Alpha Were claw against the bonds of fate in the highly anticipated companion novel to the New York Times bestselling Bride.

Serena Paris is orphaned, pack-less, and one of a kind. Coming forward as the first Human-Were hybrid was supposed to heal a centuries-long rift between species. Instead, it made her a target, prey to the ruthless political machinations between Weres, Vampyres, and Humans. With her enemies closing in on her, she has only one option left—if he’ll have her.

As Alpha of the Northwest pack, Koen Alexander commands obedience. His authority is so absolute, only a fool would threaten his mate. It doesn’t matter if Serena doesn’t reciprocate his feelings, nothing will stop him from keeping her safe.

But power-hungry Vampyres and Weres are not the only threats chasing Serena. Sooner or later, her past is bound to catch up with her—and Koen might be the only thing standing between her and total annihilation…

Content Warning: violence, death

+ First off, the narrators did an amazing job with voicing the characters. And I think if I didn’t listen to this as an audiobook, the rating would have been a smidge lower. It’s the narrators that kept me invested in these characters and story.

+~ Back in the Bride series of Vampyres, Weres and Humans, now this book follows Serena who is a hybrid. There is a whole mystery about what she is and her background so most of the story is trying to uncover that. Her mate, Koen is a Were, and though they are mates he has pledged a covenant to basically not take anything far between them – even though they are mates. We learn more about the different packs, and Misery from Bride, who is Serena’s bestie, makes a few appearances – I do love their relationship. The one issue I had, which I didn’t mind a lot because I was listening to this story at 2x the speed…is not much happens for the first half of the book. Yes, Serena and Koen are getting to know one another but it’s more like Serena is learning about pack life, and learning about her biology because it’s different. I did enjoy the scientific angle about the biology of being a Were but it just felt like nothing much was happening.

+ Serena is miss sunshine and needy and so many things are happening to her and because of her. Koen is sarcastic, he acted like an alpha male alright. The two of them together was fun. But this is a SLOW BURN romance. Slow for the first like 75% of the book and then BURN for the last 25% of the book. I was waiting and waiting for some of their rising tension to even move into something more…and then we kind of get too much of it at the end. It’s smutty, and if you know anything about Werewolves having sexual relations, they get into heat and then there is the whole “knot” issue. So yes, by the end of this book these two couldn’t keep their hands off one another. But…I did love their relationship. He protected her and she brought joy to his life.

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed this audiobook and glad I decided to listen to it than read it because the narrators did a great job. I think this is a great edition to the Bride series and I did like Serena and Koen, one is sunshine, the other is full of sarcasm but in the end, they fall in love. There is a big cast of characters and I enjoy the community that is always so present in these packs. There is a lot of werewolf spice in this one – knot and all, but you have to wait until near the end of it to get your fill and it’s a lot. It will be interesting to see who’s story is next in the series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Deep End by. Ali Hazelwood | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Check & Mate by. Ali Hazelwood | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bride by. Ali Hazelwood | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Love Hypothesis by. Ali Hazelwood | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Good Spirits by. B.K. Borison | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Good Spirits (Ghosted, #1)

Author: B.K. Borison

Narrator: Karissa Vacker, Will Watt

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Pages: 329 Listening Time: approximately 10 hours

Publication Date: 10/20/25

Publisher: HarperCollins

Categories: Holiday Romance, Paranormal Romance

He’s the Ghost of Christmas Past. She’s not exactly Scrooge.

Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan intends to spend this holiday haunting like every other—get in, get out, return to his otherwise aimless existence as a ghost awaiting the afterlife. But when he’s faced with Harriet York, the sweetest assignment he’s ever had, he suddenly finds himself wishing for a future.

Harriet York has no idea why she’s being haunted. She’s a good person—or, at least, she tries to be. A people pleaser to her core, she always does what’s expected of her. But as she and Nolan begin to examine her past, they discover there are threads that bind them together— and realize there might be more to moving on than expected.

With the deadline of Christmas Eve fast approaching, will they find the key to their futures in each other’s pasts? Or will they stay firmly in the present, indulging in their unexpected, spirited connection?

Filled with magic, mayhem, and cozy holiday charm

Content Warning: complicated relationship with family, death, grief

I listened to the audio version of this book and I have to say the narrators were perfect for this holiday romance. I could hear a smile in their voices. I especially gravitated to Nolan’s character because of the accent and his voice was so playful and charming!

This was a cute and fun holiday paranormal romance but it also had some tough topics especially when it came to Harriet’s family. She has horrible parents. Nolan’s spirit is there to help Harriet figure out what she did wrong in her life, but instead they both realize she’s there to help Nolan’s spirit face some things about his past also.

But Harriet doesn’t do anything wrong in her life, she just hasn’t stood up for herself against her awful mother and family. I felt bad for her because she seems like a nice person, who just didn’t want to cave to family pressure, and yet she’s punished for it. They made her feel unworthy, poor girl.

The romance is really cute, because they are both fun people and it’s spicy. They become close as both of them see each other’s past memories and I love how they had one another for some of the tough things they had to face.

Final Thoughts:

This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I really enjoyed this one, especially because I’m not good at reading holiday romances during the holidays. I’m also glad I listened to it as an audiobook because of Nolan’s charming accent! Definitely check it out if you are looking for a holiday romance.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Housemaid by. Freida McFadden | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: (closed door)

Title: The Housemaid (The Housemaid, #1)

Author: Freida McFadden

Narrator: Lauryn Allman

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Pages: 329 Listening Time: approximately 10 hours

Publication Date: 4/26/22

Publisher: Bookouture

Categories: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense

“Welcome to the family,” Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be whoever I like. But I’ll soon learn that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than my own…

Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor.

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.

I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out… and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late.

But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am.

They don’t know what I’m capable of…

An unbelievably twisty read that will have you glued to the pages late into the night. Anyone who loves The Woman in the Window, The Wife Between Us and The Girl on the Train won’t be able to put this down!

Content Warning: gaslighting, torture, body horror

+ The narrator did amazing doing the voices for this story! I like how she had an accent for Millie and a different voice for Nina – it helped me distinguish the main characters.

+ I like how this story was a quick read and it is engaging too! The story starts off with Millie’s perspective. She’s the new live-in housemaid for the Winchester’s but she has a mysterious past – all we know is that she used to be in prison. Throughout the story she’s grateful to have a job and a place to live but Nina, her employer is always gaslighting her! The only person nice to her in the house is Nina’s husband Andy.

+ The second half of the story we get Nina’s perspective and I thought it was a fun twist in this mysterious and suspenseful story. The ending is unexpected but I enjoyed this story a lot.

Final Thoughts:

I wanted to read this before the movie comes out and I’m glad I listened to it as an audiobook because it was really entertaining. I like the build up, the mystery and all the suspense at the end, plus the twist!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Tusk Love by. Thea Guanzon | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Tusk Love

Author: Thea Guanzon

Narrator: Teddy Hamilton, Brittany Pressley

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Pages: 352 Listening Time: approximately 9 hours

Publication Date: 7/1/25

Publisher: Random House Audio

Categories: Cozy Fantasy, Romance

As the daughter of an ambitious merchant, Guinevere’s path has been marry into a noble house of the Dwendalian Empire, raise her family’s station, and live quietly as a lordling’s obedient wife. But Guinevere longs for a life unbounded by expectations, for freedom and passion and adventure.

Those distant dreams become a sudden reality when her caravan is beset by bandits, leaving her guards slain and Guinevere stranded alone on the dangerous Amber Road. Her only chance of survival is to travel alongside Oskar, the aloof half-orc who saved her during the attack.

Unlike Guinevere, Oskar’s path is not so set in stone. With his mother dead and his apprenticeship abandoned, all that’s left is a long, lonely walk to a land he’s never seen to find family he’s never met. The last thing he needs is a spoiled waif like Guinevere slowing him down—even if the spark between them sizzles with promise.

Despite his cold exterior, Oskar is brave and thoughtful and unlike anyone Guinevere has ever met. And while Guinevere may be sheltered, she brings out a softness in him that he has never dared to feel before. As the flames of their passion grow, they realize that soon they’ll need to choose between their expected destinations or their blossoming romance.

Written by New York Times bestselling author Thea Guanzon at the behest of Critical Role’s Jester Lavorre, Tusk Love brings the most romantic story on Exandrian bookshelves to life.

Content Warning: violence

+ The narrators for this story are perfect and they really brought these characters to life! I loved their voices so much. It’s exactly how I imagined Guinevere and Oskar would sound.

+ Oskar is the grumpiest half-orc ever; his attitude made me laugh so much. Guinevere is his total opposite, she’s a young lady raised in a merchant family and on her way to her fiancé – a lord. The two of them together were so funny and cute! I loved how Guinevere was always trying to behave as a young lady on this rough journey. There is banter, and then some spicy moments too. I adore the both of them!

+ This story is filled with travel and lots of adventure and I loved seeing Guinevere who is prim and proper grow so much. She went from someone who was always people pleasing (really wanted to please her parents), to someone who fought for what she wanted – Oskar. As for Oskar, he was a half-orc with a soft heart even if he was sarcastic and grumpy!

Final Thoughts:

I loved everything about this audiobook – the narrators are fantastic, and the story is filled with adventure, swoony romance, spice and so much humor. I love Oskar and Guinevere. I’m so glad I listened to this one!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Hurricane Wars by. Thea Guanzon | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Monsoon Rising by. Thea Guazon | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Atmosphere by. Taylor Jenkins Reid | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Atmosphere

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Narrator: Kristen DiMercurio, Julia Whelan, Taylor Jenkins Reid

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Pages: 352 Listening Time: approximately 10 hours

Publication Date: 6/2/25

Publisher: Books on Tape

Categories: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Historical Fiction, LGBT+

Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s space shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.

Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easygoing even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warmhearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane.

As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe.

Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, it all changes in an instant.

Fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting readers to iconic times and places, creating complex protagonists, and telling a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love—this time among the stars.

Content Warning: death, grief, parental neglect, strained sibling relationship, sexism

+ The narrators for this audiobook were fantastic! The story starts off with a tense moment, then flashes back to the past and ends with the present again. There are many tense moments in the beginning and end, this story is an emotional ride. The relationships in this story is really what made it such a great book.

+ I really enjoyed the storytelling. I love all the historical elements about NASA! I even didn’t mind the science stuff, I was interested in it. Joan’s story of being a professor, then training to be an astronaut and falling in love with another woman, to being an aunt and then the main caregiver – what a story!

+ Joan and Vanessa’s love story is so good, realistic and heartbreaking. It’s so full of love, but so filled with challenges – not being able to love one another in public. UGH – it made me shed a tear. I love how they fight for one another.

+ The found family with the fellow astronauts was so heart-warming. I loved all the training scenes and everyone getting to know one another and you can feel the camaraderie. I also loved the real family challenges that Joan go through with her sister Barbara and her niece Frances. I was so mad at Barbara but Joan is a great aunt who loves her niece.

~ Barbara – I wish hoping she would change, hoping she would make the right choices, but she just ended up making me upset.

Final Thoughts:

This story had everything – drama, romance, history, it is heart-warming, emotional and devastating. It has characters I loved and rooted for. I loved it and it made me cry.